L.A. schools implements Meatless Mondays

City council simply encouraged the move, but district made it official.

April 8—Los Angeles public schools have just gone meatless on Mondays. But unlike the Los Angeles City Council’s resolution in November that simply urges people to observe a Monday without meat, the school system really has issued an edict. It stopped serving meat on Mondays last month.

This past Monday, most elementary schoolers were offered the Southwestern rice and bean bowl, which clocks in at a reasonable 400 calories. The sodium count is 970 mg. But that's under the school district's policy of no more than 1,100 mg of sodium per lunch entree, according to Laura Benavidez, deputy director of food services for L.A. Unified.

City officials are weighing changes to school menus less than one year after earlier changes drew parent criticism. Officials say those menu changes were not final, and an advisory board is suggesting healthier, fresher dishes and a more expansive in-class breakfast program.